US - The House Committee on Agriculture has voted to repeal the mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) requirements for beef, pork and chicken, while leaving intact the requirements for all other covered commodities.

US - Imported beef prices into the US continued to decline this week, with the imported 90CL cow beef indicator 2.5¢ lower, at 217.5¢/lb CIF (down 2.2A¢ to 615.5A¢/kg CIF), according to analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia.

NEW ZEALAND - Prices for inputs used on New Zealand sheep and beef farms increased 1.1 per cent in the year to March 2015, according to the latest Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Economic Service sheep and beef on-farm inflation report.

INDONESIA - After a slow start to 2015, beef imports into Indonesia were up in February and March, resulting in a three per cent increase in overall volume in the first quarter, at 22,008 tonnes, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

UK - West Country Beef and Lamb bearing the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) banner has a bright future ahead after establishing itself as a premium market product, according to Meat South West (MSW).

ARGENTINA - As part of the opening of the 83rd World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Paris this week, the Argentine Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation, Carlos Casamiquela, called on the organisation to recognise the role of the small producer in the value chain.

CANADA - The Canadian government is to grant nearly C$2.5 million over two years to the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) to help the aquaculture industry increase the domestic and international market share for Canadian aquaculture products.

CANADA - Canada has given a grant of $183,929 to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) to help ensure that livestock and poultry are transported in a safe and humane manner by certified transporters.

NORTHERN IRELAND - Collaboration to overcome challenges in the food chain and to maximise the potential of local businesses to succeed in markets like China should be a key focus for Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector, according to a leading figure in the industry.

UK – Most slaughterhouses in the UK have been found to have good animal welfare practices, according to the findings of the British Food Standards Agency following a programme of unannounced inspections.

CANADA - Strong beef exports to Canada so far this year suggest Australia could hit the annual 35,000 tonnes tariff-free quota, a According to the April issue of Steiner Consulting’s Canada Meat Market Report.

FRANCE - Fish auction sales in France have shown a slight increase of one per cent in value to reach €630 million in 2014, compared to 2013, according to Finnian O’Luasa in the Paris Office of Bord Bia – Irish Food Board.

US – The US National Farmers Union has called on members of Congress to vote against recent legislation passed in the House Agriculture Committee that would repeal portions of Country-of-Origin Labelling (COOL).

US - Manitoba's Minister of Agriculture is hopeful the latest World Trade Organization ruling on US Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling will result in a return to historical patterns of trade between Canada and the US in cattle and hogs, writes Bruce Cochrane.

FRANCE - Terrena, supported by Sofiprotéol as minority shareholder, has signed an exclusive agreement with D&P Participations, a subsidiary of the Calmels family’s holding company, to buy its 52.5 per cent controlling interest in Doux Group.

US - Three different interesting reports with a bearing on markets will be released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week, and we have also received the results of the mandatory country-of-origin labelling (MCOOL) dispute, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner.

BRAZIL - The Brazilian beef industry saw a turnover of US$ 447 million in exports in April with shipments of more than 107,000 tonnes, boosted by an increase of shipments to Russia, Venezuela, Iran and Algeria.